!NEW! Opel Dominates FIA ERC Junior Finale

• European Junior champion Emil Bergkvist wins Barum Czech Rally in Opel ADAM R2
• Opel takes first and third place at FIA ERC Junior 2015 finale
• Tire defect costs Opel works driver Marijan Griebel second place

This is what winners look like: Emil Bergkvist and Joakim Sjöberg at ceremony in Zlín.

The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team finished the 2015 FIA ERC Junior season with another outstanding performance. Swedish Opel works driver Emil Bergkvist (21, from Torsåker) and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo), who had already captured the ERC Junior title before the end of the seaon, won the Barum Czech Rally Zlín in the Czech Republic in grand style. Their brand colleagues Aleks Zawada from Poland and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux took third place in a privately run Opel ADAM R2.

Masterful: ERC Junior champion Emil Bergkvist on his way to third season victory.

“I am overjoyed,“ beamed Bergkvist after his third season victory in the FIA ERC Junior 2015’s six races. “This rallye was the perfect end to a perfect season. Everything went according to plan, we were able to control the race from our leading position. We all worked so hard for this success, and it is great to see that our hard work paid off. Many thanks to my fantastic team from Opel Motorsport. Without them none of this would have been possible.”

High-flyer: Marijan Griebel again showed the Opel ADAM R2’s huge potential at the ERC finale.

In a second works Opel ADAM R2, Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) and co-drive Stefan Clemens (28, from Thailen) had a stroke of bad luck when they suffered a puncture on their right front tire in the eleventh special stage after a top performance that had them on their way to becoming vice champion. As there were still more than ten kilometers to go to the finish line, the duo was forced to stop for a tire change. A good three minutes were lost and so they were only able to take fourth place in the rallye. In the fight for second place, Griebel came in hard on the heels of the young Latvian Ralfs Sirmacis, finishing a very strong third.  

Subdued joy: A tire puncture cost Marijan Griebel and Stefan Clemens the vice championship

But Griebel was disappointed: “We deserved second place. It is really bitter that a tire defect ruined everything. But with a little time and distance, I‘ll be able to look back at this year with the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team with great satisfaction. We were really competitive in this extremely tough championship and drove a strong season.”

The three customer Opel ADAM R2s were also very fast. Aleks Zawada celebrated his second podium finish in the FIA ERC Junior, where Julius Tannert also could have joined him. But he and his co-driver Jennifer Thielen from Luxembourg lost valuable time on the first day and were stopped by a technical problem on Sunday on the way to the first special stage. The Bavarian duo Dominik Dinkel/Pirmin Winklhofer drove so well in their first European championship race in their Opel ADAM R2 that they would have come in sixth in the ERC Junior (for which they weren’t registered).

Proud boss: Opel Motorsport-Director Jörg Schrott with the winners Bergkvist (l.) and Sjöberg.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott was very pleased with the Opel teams‘ performance in the Czech Republic: “This result again shows that the ADAM R2 is currently the benchmark in the R2 class. Our European champion Emil once again gave us a taste of his exceptional talent. I feel very badly for Marijan, who yet again suffered a tire puncture that cost him a better result. My compliment go to Aleks, Julius and Dominik, who were very fast in our customer cars.”

Strong comeback: Opel celebrated first European championship title in 33 years with Emil Bergkvist and the Opel ADAM R2.

!NEW! Rallye Deutschland: Opel Teams Join World’s Rallye Elite

• ADAC Opel Rallye Cup again at German round of World Rallye Championship
• ADAM teams expect four intense days with chance at double points
• ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team celebrates European Championship with fans

Junior European Champion: Emil Bergkvist and his Opel ADAM R2 from the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team.

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland from August 20 – 23, 2015 is a journey into a new dimension for many teams in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup. This round of the FIA ERC, where the Opel teams again race in two complete stages, impresses with its commanding itinerary. It is even more formidable than last year: instead of 18 there are 20 special stages and the overall distance has increased to a mighty 1,285 kilometers.

Rallye Deutschland: The World Championship round on home turf is a highlight for the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup teams

So the teams face a strenuous and exciting week when they set off on Tuesday to meticulously prepare their pace notes for the rallye. As usual, the cars will leave the service park in Trier to head to the special stages, which follow demanding asphalt tracks through the idyllic Moselle region as well as the Baumholder military range with its notorious Panzerplatte and the legendary Gina jump. At 45 kilometers, the Panzerplatte Long stage that will be run twice on Saturday is by far the longest in the entire Cup season. Directly before this super stage, the participants complete three spectator-friendly sprints of 2.9 kilometers on the Arena Panzerplatte circuit track that already attracted thousands of rallye fans last year. In addition to racing excitement, fans can look forward to great entertainment: from 2 p.m. on Saturday, the German band Revolverheld will rev things up even more.

Jump “Gina“: The Rallye Deutschland special stages follow demanding asphalt tracks through the idyllic Moselle region as well as the Baumholder military range

The first highlight is the show start at the Porta Nigra in Trier on Thursday evening. The Cup teams will tackle the first leg with eight special stages on Friday. The second leg with twelve special stages (the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will leave out stage 17 “Bosenberg”) goes from early Saturday to Sunday mid-day. Full points and full prize money will be awarded for both parts of the rallye. At the end of the second leg, at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland finish line, the teams will have completed almost 340 stage kilometers – about three times as much as at a “normal” race in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup. Those who make it will drive over the finish ramp in front of the Porta Nigra on Sunday afternoon.

Experience has shown that not only the world elite promise an absolutely first-class show with their spectacular World Rallye cars, the Opel ADAM Cup cars are also real attention-getters in every race and have already caused quite a sensation in the rallye world.

Top favorite: Last year’s winner Marijan Griebel has a good shot at the Division 5 class victory, and he can also capture second place in the European Championship at the FIA ERC Junior season-finale Barum Rallye in the Czech Republic the last weekend in August.

Not to mention the around 190 hp ADAM R2 with which Opel works drivers Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) and Emil Bergkvist (21, from Torsåker) from the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team have stirred up the FIA ERC Junior this season. Quite literally – at the Rally Estonia in mid-July, the young Swede Bergkvist already won the title before the season’s end. His German team colleague Griebel, last year’s ADAC Rallye Deutschland winner and one of the top favorites in Division 5, has a good shot at taking second place in the European Championship at the FIA ERC Junior season-finale Barum Rallye in the Czech Republic the last weekend in August. All the more reason the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior team drivers can hardly wait to perform for German rallye fans as European champions at the home race.

!NEW! Opel is European Champion !

• Emil Bergkvist wins FIA ERC Junior in Opel ADAM R2
• Second place at Rally Estonia secures early championship title
• Team colleague Marijan Griebel with good shot at number two season finish 

Champions: Emil Bergkvist and his co-pilot Joakim Sjöberg secured the title in the FIA ERC Junior with their second place at the “auto24 Rally Estonia”.

In its first full season of competition, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team with the Opel ADAM R2 has already taken the FIA ERC Junior by storm. With their second-place finish at the auto24 Rally Estonia, Emil Bergkvist (21, from Torsåker) and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo) already won the title in the continent’s most fiercely contested Junior Rallye category one round before the season’s end. “I’m speechless,” beamed Bergkvist. “I want to thank everyone who contributed to this success, first and foremost Opel Motorsport and the whole team that always gave us a fantastic car. And of course my co-driver Jocke – without his perfect work this wouldn’t have been possible. The ERC Junior is so incredibly competitive that it takes a perfect team performance every time to get anywhere close to a podium finish. I really still can’t believe it!”

Successful duo: Emil Bergkvist impressed once again in his Opel ADAM R2 and could celebrate winning the FIA ERC Junior title in Estonia.

In addition to his high speed at the extremely fast gravel rallye in Estonia, Bergkvist also stole the show with an impressive and clever strategy. The two Swedes maintained a spot in the top 3 during all stages without taking incalculable risks for themselves and their Opel ADAM R2. And they didn’t let a 10-second penalty right at the start of the rallye distract them. Bergkvist said, “We quickly found a good rhythm and were able to attack without going all out. The car once again ran like clockwork. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the Opel ADAM R2 is the best rallye car in this category today.”

Also taking the two void results into account, Bergkvist/Sjöberg have a total of 128 points, which can no longer be achieved by any of their competitors. So the Barum Rallye season finale in the Czech Republic on the last weekend in August will be a show race for the two champions.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott was full of praise: “One can’t applaud Emil’s and Joakim’s outstanding performance over the entire season enough. They were at the front of the field in every rallye and very cleverly captured the title. A huge compliment also goes to the whole ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team. This passionate dedication and fantastic team spirit were the key to success. And we are of course extremely proud of our ADAM R2 that proved its ability to win under all conditions. To secure the title early in this tough championship in the first full year is much more than we could have expected. It is simply fantastic!”

Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) and his co-driver Stefan Clemens (29, from Thailen) finished the demanding rallye in the Baltics a strong sixth, giving them a good shot at capturing second place in the FIA ERC Junior at the final rallye in the Czech Republic. “This was one of the hardest rallies I’ve ever driven in,” admitted Griebel. “I am very happy with the result. A lot of teams showed how difficult it was to drive fast here and how easy it was to make a mistake. We got better and better during the rallye and again gathered loads of experience on gravel. And of course I’m thrilled for Emil and Jocke: they and the whole ADAC Opel Rallye Team really deserve this sensational success.”

Potential runner-up: Opel factory driver Marijan Griebel still has a chance of finishing second in the FIA ERC Junior after claiming sixth place in Estonia.

In contrast, Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux were plagued by bad luck in their customer Opel ADAM R2. The winners of the Ypres Rallye hit a rock in the fourth stage that one of the cars in front of them catapulted onto the track. On impact a wheel suspension broke and these parts punched through the oil pan. The next day, Zawada/Derousseaux tackled the second leg with their repaired car, but were again prematurely stopped. A clogged radiator caused the Opel ADAM R2 to overheat, dashing all chances of finishing the rallye. 

!NEW! Match Point for ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team

• Emil Bergkvist could already secure FIA ERC Junior title in Opel ADAM R2
• Extremely fast gravel surface at next-to-last FIA ERC Junior round in Estonia
• Marijan Griebel heading to Baltics in top form after recent outstanding performances

Joyful anticipation: Opel factory driver Emil Bergkvist admits that he loves driving on gravel tracks and wants to attack at the auto24 Rally Estonia.

The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is looking forward to its next big adventure at the auto24 Rally Estonia from July 17 to 19. The event around Tartu, about 180 kilometers south-east of Estonia’s capital Tallinn, is one of the fastest gravel rallies in Europe. So this fifth and penultimate round of the FIA ERC Junior seems to be tailor-made for Swede Emil Bergkvist (21, from Torsåker) and his Opel ADAM R2. The FIA ERC Junior leader and his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo) are accordingly motivated. “These are the conditions I love the most for rallying,” says Bergkvist. “The extremely fast gravel roads in Estonia are going to be tons of fun! I’m sure that they’ll be a great fit to my driving style. Opel ADAM R2 has proven its competitiveness on every type of surface, so I think I’ll have a good shot at a podium finish.”

An early title win in the FIA ERC Junior is not the main focus, but it is a possibility, as only the best four of six results are counted. For each round, the top ten drivers earn points according to the Formula 1 scheme of the FIA. In addition, up to seven bonus points can be earned for each leg. A driver can earn a maximum of 39 points per FIA ERC Junior round – what Bergkvist already managed to do in Latvia and Ireland. Nevertheless, the Swede – the only driver who could already win the title in Estonia – refuses to engage in any speculation. “I am aware that the title could be decided in Estonia. But I’m not wasting any time thinking about that. Competition in the FIA ERC Junior is way too tough to do anything else but concentrate on the next stage – and then add the points up afterwards.”

Bergkvist’s colleague in the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team, Marijan Griebel, is one of the six drivers who currently have a chance of winning the FIA ERC Junior 2015 title. The 26-year-old from Hahnweiler and his co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, from Thailen) have gotten over their bad luck in Ypres, Belgium, where a puncture in the last stage cost them the victory, and are confident going into the adventure in Estonia. Griebel says: “I am really looking forward to very, very fast gravel roads that are quite different from the other events. That’s what makes the FIA ERC Junior so challenging and exciting. What am I expecting? A bunch of guys, mostly from Scandinavia and the Baltics, who will go flat out from the very first meter. But I think that the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and the Opel ADAM R2 are in a good position to really give them a run for their money.”

In striking distance: Marijan Griebel and his co-pilot Stefan Clemens can also still win the FIA ERC Junior.

Upbeat and confident, Pole Aleksander Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux are looking forward to Estonia. The winners of the Kenotek Ypres Rallye in Belgium are racing in a customer Opel ADAM R2.

Participants in the auto24 Rally Estonia are facing a total distance of 656.38 kilometers, which includes 16 stages covering 204.86 kilometers. The first leg starts on Friday (July 17) at 20:00 local time (19:00 CEST) with the City Stage in Tartu. The rest of the first leg with nine more special stages takes place on Saturday between 8:52 and 19:52 local time. The second leg with six special stages begins on Sunday at 7:30 and first finishers will cross the finish line in Tartu beginning at 16:00 local time. Eurosport will broadcast daily reports covering the auto24 Rally Estonia. Opel offers live timing on the website www.opel-motorsport.com.

!NEW! Triple Victory for Opel at Ypres Rallye

• Opel teams dominate fourth round of FIA ERC Junior
• Three ADAM R2 winners – Aleks Zawada ahead of Marijan Griebel and Julius Tannert
• Bad luck costs Opel works drivers Griebel and Bergkvist near certain victory

Marijan Griebel, Stefan Clemens, Cathy Derousseaux, Aleks Zawada, Julius Tannert and Jennifer Thielen (from left to right) celebrate the Opel one-two-three at the Ypres Rallye.

Opel reinforced its strong position in the FIA ERC Junior at the Kenotek Ypres Rallye in West Flanders, Belgium. Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux celebrated their first victory in their customer Opel ADAM R2, ahead of German Opel works drivers Marijan Griebel/Stefan Clemens from the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and Julius Tannert and his Luxembourgian co-driver Jennifer Thielen in another customer Opel ADAM R2. Three of this year‘s four season victories in the FIA ERC Junior have now gone to the brand with the blitz!

“A fantastic day, a fantastic car, a fantastic rallye,” said an elated Zawada, who seemed to be out of the running for victory at the beginning of the second day after his 190 hp front-wheel drive car was stuck in a ditch for a minute after a harmless spin. But the Polish-French team did not give up, fought their way back and ultimately also benefitted from their competitors’ back luck. “Luck also plays a role, and the score is settled at the very end,” said Zawada. “I am really sorry for Emil and Marijan. Both deserved to win. But I am overjoyed that our efforts resulted in victory.”

The Opel works drivers Emil Bergkvist and Marijan Griebel battled for the lead from the first kilometer before both were impeded by mishaps. First Bergkvist had to retire his Opel ADAM R2 in the twelfth of seventeen stages with an engine problem. And then Griebel, who went into the last stage with a 36-second lead, suffered a left rear puncture shortly before the finish line. The 26-year-old from Hahnweiler still managed to take his Opel ADAM R2 across the finish line on one rim, but the time loss of nearly one minute sent him and his co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, from Thailen) to second place behind Zawada.

Bad luck strikes: Opel factory driver Marijan Griebel was leading until a damaged tire on the last stage of the Ypres Rallye saw him drop to second.

Griebel was understandably frustrated: “After a few days, I’ll probably be able to be pleased with our good performance and Opel Motorsport’s superior showing in this magnificent setting in front of thousands of excited spectators here in Ypres. But right now disappointment is the overwhelming feeling. Opel’s triple victory clearly proves that especially on asphalt, ADAM R2 currently sets the benchmark in its class. So we’re going into the last two FIA ERC Junior events in Estonia and the Czech Republic with a lot of self-confidence.”

Lead defending: Opel factory driver Emil Bergkvist defended first place in the FIA ERC Junior despite having to retire from the Ypres Rallye.

Swede Bergkvist (21, from Torsaker), who together with his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo) won the first two FIA ERC Junior rounds in Latvia and Ireland, was disappointed but composed. “We had absolutely everything we needed to win here today. But things like this happen in motorsports, and there is no one I can blame for it. To be honest, I’d rather fight to win and have to pull out because of bad luck than be too slow and finish fourth. And we still have the best shot at the FIA ERC Junior championship.”

Indeed, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team’s position in the FIA ERC Junior is still excellent. As only four of six rallye results are taken into consideration for the final points tally, Bergkvist’s withdrawal in Ypres could be a void result. And as his two toughest pursuers also failed to finish the race, he even increased his lead in the ranking after four rounds by two to 26 points. Griebel’s second-place finish put him in third place in the overall standings. He is currently 43 points behind his team colleague Bergkvist.

Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott commented on his charges’ results with mixed feelings: “Today two hearts beat in my chest. We celebrated a fantastic result for Opel that proves that our customer ADAM R2s are just as powerful as both works cars. I really feel for Emil and Marijan. Both gave a fantastic performance that deserved a victory. Marijan really had everything under control until the last stage. But I’m also happy for Aleks and Julius, who showed that they are capable of keeping up with the fast pace at the top of the FIA ERC Junior. Overall the performance of the Opel ADAM R2 was extremely good. And we are of course happy to go into the races in Estonia and the Czech Republic knowing this.”

!NEW! Opel Rallye Junior Team Sets Ambitious Goals for Asphalt Festival in Belgium

• Kenotek Ypres Rallye marks start of second half of FIA ERC Junior season
• Emil Bergkvist wants to defend his lead in the FIA ERC Junior in Ypres
• Marijan Griebel banking on his and the Opel ADAM R2’s outstanding asphalt qualities

Frontrunner: Emil Bergkvist wants to impress with his ADAM R2 in Belgium and tighten his grip on the overall lead of the FIA ERC Junior.

From the gravel of the Azores to the asphalt of West Flanders – the Kenotek Ypres Rallye marks the start of the second half of the FIA ERC Junior season. The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team has an ambitious approach to the decisive phase of the strongest junior championship in Europe. Swede Emil Bergkvist (21, from Torsåker) is currently leading the FIA ERC Junior in his Opel ADAM R2 after celebrating two wins in the first three races of the season. His German team-mate Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) has been unlucky so far, failing to finish for the second time this season in his last appearance in the Azores. However, thanks to the scoring system, he still has every chance of moving up the rankings. Only four of the six races of the FIA ERC Junior are taken into consideration for the final points tally.

Ambitious goals: Marijan Griebel wants to make up for not finishing in the SATA Rallye and is targeting a podium finish in Ypres.

“I know the Ypres Rallye from last year and know exactly what to expect,” said Griebel, who along with his co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, Thailen) has set himself ambitious targets for the trip to Belgium. “I like the stages and they should be well suited to me. The competition is probably going to be a lot stiffer than last year because the level in the FIA ERC Junior is so high this year. However, the entire ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is well prepared and we know that we have a fast car, especially on asphalt. I want a podium finish in Ypres!”

The drivers of the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team have demonstrated their potential on asphalt on numerous occasions in the past, most recently when securing a one-two finish at the Rallye Ireland and at the Rallye Wervik in Belgium, which both Bergkvist and Griebel used for preparation for the Ypres Rallye.

Leading duo: Emil Bergkvist and his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg are currently leading the pack in the overall standings of the FIA ERC Junior.

Bergkvist and his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo) realize that they will be facing a real test. “Marijan will be very strong in Ypres,” said the current championship leader who turned 21 on June 17. “I am looking forward to a great rallye and a new challenge. We dropped some points in the Azores but we are determined to fight for a place on the podium in Ypres. We all realize that is will be tough in this very strong field. However, since Ireland at the very latest we know that our ADAM R2 can win on asphalt if we all do a good job. I obviously want to defend my overall lead, but in this strong field that will only be possible if I attack – and that is what I plan to do.”

Two customer ADAM R2s will also be competing in Ypres, with Julius Tannert and his Luxembourgian co-driver Jennifer Thielen along with Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux racing under the Opel colors.

The first stage of the Ypres Rallye, which in total consists of 17 demanding stages covering 253 kilometers, will start on Friday (June 26) at 16:15 CEST and end at 22:30 CEST. The following day, the action will start at 10:20 CEST and end at 22:30 CEST. Opel offers live timing on the website www.opel-motorsport.com.

The Ypres Rallye on TV:

Friday, June 26
00:00               Eurosport                    Training and preview

Saturday, June 27
00:15               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 1

Sunday, June 28
00:00               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 2
08:00               Eurosport 2                 Highlights Day 2 (repeat)

Tuesday, June 30
23:00               Eurosport                    Inside ERC – The Magazine

!NEW! ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team Maintains ERC Lead

• Opel works driver Emil Bergkvist solidifies his FIA ERC Junior lead in the Azores
• Defect at end of race robs Marijan Griebel of deserved result for top performance
• ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team confident for next FIA ERC Junior rounds

Lead defended: Opel factory driver Emil Bergkvist finished fourth in his ADAM R2 on the Azores and defended his overall FIA ERC Junior lead.

Motorsport can be ruthless. This proved all too true for the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team drivers on the last day of the SATA Rallye Acores. First, Emil Bergkvist (20, from Torsåker) and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, from Ösmo) ran into trouble. At the third-to-last stage of the third round of the FIA ERC Junior, the Swedes were in an excellent second place when suddenly their Opel ADAM R2 was left with only the first and second gears. This was the end of all podium-finish dreams for the two-time season winners and ERC leaders, and their new goal was now to limit the extent of the damage.

And Bergkvist/Sjöberg achieved this goal, bringing the Opel ADAM R2 through the last two stages and across the finish line in Ponta Delgada in spite of a flat tire during the last kilometers. This landed the two Scandinavians in fourth place, consolidating their overall lead at the mid-way point of the FIA ERC Junior 2015 season. Heading to the next round in three weeks in Ypern, Belgium, their lead over the Azores winner Chris Ingram is now 24 points. And as only the best four of the six FIA ERC Junior rounds results count while the two weakest are discounted, the current rankings are only of temporary significance.

“I have mixed feelings about the rallye,” said Bergkvist. “Even under these difficult conditions, we were again very fast with our Opel ADAM R2. Of course we would have liked to take second place, but that wasn’t meant to be. That is motorsport. But at least we made it over the finish line and scored valuable points with fourth place. We are still leading the FIA ERC Junior with a solid advantage over our closest competitor. Now we will focus on what’s ahead and will again go into the next FIA ERC Junior races in full attack mode.“

Teammates Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) and his co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, from Weiskirchen) had even worse luck. Following a great performance that put them in fourth place going into the final stage of the challenging gravel rallye on the Portuguese archipelago in the mid-Atlantic, they had to deal with a defect on their Opel ADAM R2. Because they were able to cross the finish line but not get back to the parc fermé in Ponta Delgada on their own, Griebel and Clemens were excluded from classification. A highlight and small consolation was their impressive best time in the over 20-kilometer long stage 13.

Thwarted: Marijan Griebel and his co-pilot Stefan Clemens put on a strong display but a defect prevented them from reaping the rewards. 

Griebel also had very mixed feelings about the rallye: “Yesterday everything went really well and in today’s rankings we even reached second - with one of the few cars that didn’t have any visible exterior damage. We had a lot of fun, we were full of confidence, up until then the Opel ADAM R2 was fantastic. Everything would have been perfect. And then two kilometers before the finish line of the final stage, we lost power. We knew right away that we wouldn’t be able to make the 60 kilometers back to Ponta Delgada. So now we have to shake it off and keep fighting. We have a fast car that can compete on all surfaces and we have good drivers. This is what we want to prove again in Ypern.”

The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team drivers don’t have a lot of time to relax. This Saturday (June 13), Griebel/Clemens and Bergkvist/Sjöberg are racing in the Rallye Wervik in Belgium with their Opel ADAM R2s. They are using this test run to prepare for the fourth round of the FIA ERC Junior, the Kenotek Ypres Rallye from June 25 - 27. The event around Ypern in West Flanders takes place on asphalt.

!NEW! Opel Rallye Junior Team: Azores Adventure Ahead !

• ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team well prepared for round three of FIA ERC Junior
• Opel works driver Emil Bergkvist heads to SATA Rallye Acores as ERC Junior leader
• Team colleague Marijan Griebel completed WRC round in Portugal as preparation

Thumbs up: The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team consisting of Stefan Clemens, Marijan Greibel, Emil Bergkvist and Joakim Sjöberg (from left to right) is optimistic ahead of the SATA Rallye Acores.

Highly motivated and full of confidence, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is eagerly heading to the gravel adventure at the SATA Rallye Acores with its two works ADAM R2 machines. After victories at both previous FIA ERC Junior rounds, Swedish Opel works driver Emil Bergkvist (20, from Torsåker) has a solid lead with 78 points and a 42-point advantage over his closest competitor. After coming in second at the Rallye Circuit of Ireland, his German team colleague Marijan Griebel (26, from Hahnweiler) is now in fifth place in the FIA ERC Junior rankings.

Upwards trend: Marijan Greibel and his Copilot Stefan Clemens want to continue to impress in their Opel ADAM R2 at the SATA Rallye Acores after finishing second at the Rallye Circuit of Ireland.

The two drivers supported by ADAC and Opel have meticulously prepared for the third round of the FIA ERC Junior taking place on the Portuguese archipelago around 1,400 kilometers west of the European continent in the mid-Atlantic. Following intensive gravel training in Austria, the teams tackled individual test races. ERC Junior leader Bergkvist, who learned rallye driving on the gravel roads in his home country and feels right at home on this surface, easily won his class at the South Swedish Rallye with his co-driver Joakim Sjöberg in their ADAM R2. One week later, teammates Griebel and his co-driver Stefan Clemens were racing towards a podium finish in the extremely challenging Rallye de Portugal, part of the World Rallye Championship, when tire damage in the last stage led to suspension problems, forcing them to withdraw from the race. On the Monday before the Azores rallye, Bergkvist and Griebel were already on site for another test day in their race cars.

Serial winner: Opel-backed Emil Bergkvist has won both races in the FIA ERC Junior so far and is 42 points clear of his closest rival in the overall rankings.

So the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team drivers are full of optimism going into the third round of the season, which is already the mid-way point of the FIA ERC Junior 2015. “I am really looking forward to the Azores,” says Bergkvist. “I have watched a lot of on-board videos and can hardly wait to tackle this fantastic gravel track in my ADAM R2. Of course the competition is again going to be really tough. But the ADAM R2 has proven that it is a sensational rallye car on all surfaces. We are very well prepared and want to deliver a clean performance with as few mistakes as possible. If we manage that, then I am confident that we’ll again have a good shot at a podium spot.”

Team colleague Griebel adds: “To take part in a rallye in the fascinating countryside of the Azores is a dream come true for me. I’m expecting extremely challenging stages with constantly changing gravel surfaces. The quickly changing weather in the Azores can also play an important role. You have to be ready for everything. I wouldn’t go so far as to use the word routine after having raced in just one gravel rallye, but my two test runs and participation in the Portuguese WRC race were certainly very good preparation for the Azores. My main goal there is to successfully cross the finish line with the ADAM R2 and to score as many points as possible for the FIA ERC Junior.”

Taking part in the entire ERC Junior with a customer ADAM R2, Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux are also racing under the Opel colors in the Azores.

The Rallye Acores covers a total distance of 725.8 kilometers, including 17 demanding gravel stages covering 216.6 kilometers. The rallye begins in Ponta Delgada on the largest island São Miguel on Thursday (June 4) at 3:45 p.m. local time (CEST minus 2 hours), and will be neutralized from 10:30 p.m. The next day the first leg will continue from 9 a.m. and finish around 9 p.m. The second leg starts on Saturday (June 6) at 8:30 a.m. and the finish line will be crossed around 7 p.m. Opel offers live timing on the website www.opel-motorsport.com.

!NEW! Opel ADAM R2: New Challenge on the Emerald Isle

• Second ERC Junior event for ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team in Ireland
• Emil Bergkvist arrives as leader of FIA ERC Junior category
• Marijan Griebel counting on Opel ADAM R2’s fine asphalt abilities 

New challenge: Swede Emil Bergkvist proved to be unbeatable on snow but how will he and his ADAM R2 fare on the asphalt roads in Ireland ?

Highly motivated and full of confidence, the ADAC Opel Rallye Team is heading to the second round of the FIA ERC Junior, the high speed Circuit of Ireland Rally, on April 2 – 4, 2015. The stiff competition is up against the Opel ADAM R2’s outstanding qualities on asphalt, and a team buoyed by Swede Emil Bergkvist (20) and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg’s (29) superb victory in Latvia last month, the first ERC Junior round of the year.

Upbeat: Swede Emil Bergkvist and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg currently lead the FIA ERC Junior after their win in Latvia last month. 

Despite his success, the Opel works driver from Torsåker, now leading the ERC Junior rankings, is staying cool, calm and collected. “Even after our win in Latvia, my expectations are exactly the same as at the beginning of the season,” says Bergkvist. “I know that I still have a lot to learn, especially on asphalt. So in light of all the strong opposition in ERC Junior, the Circuit of Ireland will be a new and big challenge. At the same time, the ADAM R2 and the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team have proven their potential to win rallyes at this incredibly high level. So I have a good feeling about Ireland, and its close, fast stages will be tons of fun!”

Redemption: Marijan Griebel and co-driver Stefan Clemens hope to make up for their unlucky start to the season with an improved display in Ireland

Bergkvist’s German team colleagues, Marijan Griebel (25, from Hahnweiler) and co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, from Weiskirchen), are also raring to go and keen to make up for an unfortunate end to their run in Latvia. Griebel: “I’m only familiar with the rallye in Ireland from on-board videos and TV footage, but I know that narrow roads and lots of jumps await us. The stages are unique and challenging, and will for sure be great to drive. I have no doubt the competition will again be incredibly tough. But as I prefer asphalt surfaces, and the ADAM R2 is evidently well suited for such conditions, I hope that Stefan and I will be among those to be reckoned with in Ireland.“

The competition at the event, part of the FIA ERC and held around Northern Ireland’s capital city Belfast, is once again top-notch. A total of 22 R2 cars from the RC4 category, including 19 teams registered in FIA ERC Junior, will tackle 18 extremely demanding asphalt stages totaling around 215 kilometers in length. Donegall Square in Belfast will be the site of the Circuit of Ireland Rally’s official starting ceremonies on Thursday evening. The first day of competition on Friday comprises eight stages, to be followed by another 10 on the second day.

Fans can keep up with what’s happening at the event through live services provided by Opel Motorsport and FIA by clicking on the button on the homepage of www.opel-motorsport.com, or by going to the FIA website: www.fiaerc.com/events/live/id/28.

Circuit of Ireland TV Schedule:

Thursday, 2 April

23:30               Eurosport                    Preview reports

Friday, 3 April

23:00               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 1

Saturday, 4 April

08:00               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 1 (repeat)

23:15               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 2

Sunday, 5 April

08:00               Eurosport                    Highlights Day 2 (repeat)

Tuesday, 7 April

23:00               Eurosport                    Inside ERC – The Magazine

!NEW! Strong International Interest in ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015

• ADAC Opel Rallye Cup starts its third season next weekend (March 6/7)
• Participants from nine countries to battle for Europe’s toughest rallye Cup
• Promotion to Opel works team and ERC entry beckons for juniors

High-flyer: The third edition of the successful ADAC Opel Rallye Cup will start on March 6.

On March 6 and 7, the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup begins its third season with the Saarland-Pfalz Rallye. The series for young driving talent has already generated massive international interest and a strong field of 20 teams drawn from nine countries will battle for points in the fight for the 2015 title, confirming the Cup’s status as the most successful rallye competition in Europe. The make-up of the starting line-up promises thrills aplenty: ten experienced Cup drivers are up against ten ambitious newcomers, while the field is more international than ever before, with 40 percent of drivers and co-drivers from European countries outside of 

Germany. And with the Finnish duo of Laura Suvanto/Reeta Hämäläinen and the German-Austrian pairing of Melanie Schulz/Elke Aigner, the starting line-up boasts two all-female teams for the first time. Belgian Yannick Neuville, younger brother of Rallye World Cup star Thierry Neuville, made a strong impression with consistently fast times during his debut season last year and is one of the favorites this season.  

Female touch: Melanie Schulz and her co-pilot Elke Aigner will form one of two all-female teams this years. 

The 2015 Cup schedule offers a tough challenge across a series of rallyes with different characteristics. New events include the season-opener at St. Wendel and the Thüringen Rallye. Opel’s ’home event’, the Rallye Wartburg, will be among the highlights, with its main service area located directly in front of the Opel Eisenach plant. And, of course, participation in the prestigious ADAC Rallye Deutschland, part of the World Rallye Championship, will be a special season highlight for the teams.

While well-proven technology, based around the 140 hp Opel ADAM Cup car, enters its third season unchanged, the sporting regulations were tweaked during the winter break. All participants will now be able to compete for the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup title regardless of age. However, with its own rankings and prize money, the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Cup remains exclusively for young drivers born in 1988 or later. The season prize money fund has been substantially increased this year and now totals around 120,000 euros. The scoring system has also been modified. The first three finishers in each rallye will collect 35, 27 and 21 points, instead of the previous 30, 24 and 20. The driver who wins the most stages in a rallye will also earn an additional five bonus points. The so-called ’Power Stage’, a special leg declared by the organizer of each rallye, now brings the top three finishers three, two and one bonus points.

Fast rallye brothers: Belgian WRC star Thierry Neuville (on left) give Opel ADAM pilot Yannick Neuville some valuable advice for the upcoming season

At the end of this season, the best junior drivers have the unique opportunity to take part in a special screening to qualify for promotion to the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team and drive the 190 hp Opel ADAM R2 on the international rallye circuit with a focus on the FIA ERC Junior in 2016.

“There are many good reasons to join the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup and we will do everything in our power to keep it that way,” says Opel Motorsport Director Jörg Schrott. “The composition of this year’s starting line-up shows that our concept of combining top-class technology with a professional platform, all at an affordable cost, is working very well. The idea of providing long-term and successful promotion of young driving talent has proven to be very appealing. The popularity of this approach is both a confirmation of its success and also a responsibility for us to maintain. I’m looking forward to an exciting ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015 season.”

Calendar ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2015

March 6 - 7                    ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye, St. Wendel
April 17 - 18                  ADAC Hessen Rallye Vogelsberg, Schlitz
May 15 - 16                   S-DMV Thüringen Rallye, Pößneck
August 7 - 9                  ADAC Cosmo Rallye Wartburg, Eisenach
August 20 - 23              ADAC Rallye Deutschland (Doppellauf), Trier
September 4 - 5            ADAC Ostsee Rallye, Grömitz

October 23 - 24             ADAC 3-Städte-Rallye, Kirchham

!NEW! Opel Triumphant at Start of European Rallye Championship

• Swede Emil Bergkvist wins Rallye Liepāja in Opel ADAM R2 
• Sensational performance under adverse conditions and against toughest competition
• Marijan Griebel leaves race in second Opel ADAM R2 after accident

Difficult circumstances: Snow, rain, fog, soaked gravel, wet snow and ice – Emil Bergkvist mastered the wintery conditions in his Opel ADAM R2.

Sensational start to the season for the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team! In their first run as Opel works drivers, Emil Bergkvist (20, Torsåker) and co-driver Joakim Sjöberg (29, Ösmo) won the first race of the FIA ERC Junior, the Rallye Liepāja in Latvia, in the Opel ADAM R2. After eleven extremely demanding rounds, the two Swedes won a good half-minute ahead of Norwegian Steve Rokland and Latvian Ralfs Sirmacis (both Peugeot 208 R2), thereby taking over the lead in the overall ratings of the FIA ERC Junior. In addition, in their front-wheel drive vehicle with “only” 190 hp in the midst of considerably more powerful, all-wheel drive competition, last year’s winners of the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup also achieved an impressive sixth place in the overall ratings.

Difficult circumstances: Snow, rain, fog, soaked gravel, wet snow and ice – Emil Bergkvist mastered the wintery conditions in his Opel ADAM R2. 

With three consecutive top round times, Bergkvist/Sjöberg made a clear statement right at the beginning of the first rallye day and laid the groundwork for their triumph, which hardly any of the experts anticipated to this extent. “I am speechless,” exulted Bergkvist. “Of course we knew what a fantastic rallye car the Opel ADAM R2 is, and we went into this race with a lot of confidence in our own abilities. But we also knew how tough the competition would be in the FIA ERC Junior. The driving skill level here is absolutely top. And the external conditions were extremely difficult – snow, rain, fog, soaked gravel, wet snow and ice kept taking turns. So I’m all the happier that Jocke and I brought the car across the finish line without any major mistakes. My thanks to the entire team that worked perfectly both during the rallye and preparations leading up to it. I can hardly wait for the next races in the Opel ADAM R2!”

Victory pose: Emil Bergkvist (right) and his co-pilot Joakim Sjöberg (left) won the first race of the FIA European Junior Rallye Championship in Latvia in their Opel ADAM R2.

Marijan Griebel (25, Hahnweiler) and his co-driver Stefan Clemens (28, Weiskirchen) in the second works ADAM R2 had an unfortunate end to their race in Latvia. The duo had found a good rhythm in the fourth round, driving in ninth place when the sudden end came after night had already fallen over the Latvian Baltic Sea coast. “Small mistake, big consequence,” said Griebel. “As long as the car was precisely on track, grip was good with the spike tires. But just a few centimeters off of the ideal line, traction was completely gone. That’s exactly what happened to us in a fast right curve. We drove too far out and slid into the ditch, which in and of itself wouldn’t have been a problem. Unfortunately we hit a crossroad head-on, the car pitched down and rolled over.”

Disastrous night: Marijan Griebel was forced to abandon the race after suffering an accident in his Opel ADAM R2 when night fell. 

Because the accident site was around one hundred kilometers from Liepāja, it took hours before the damaged ADAM R2 made it back to the service area. There the team led by Technical Director of Opel Motorsport, Dietmar Metrich, decided to forego an attempt to repair the vehicle on site.

The extremely challenging conditions also took their toll on both Opel customer teams during the start of the European Championship. Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux had just clocked their best time in round six when they slid into a ditch and had to withdraw from the Rallye in the following round. German Julius Tannert and his Luxembourgish co-driver Jennifer Thielen had a stroke of bad luck when they lost a wheel in the second round without the involvement of any external force. In order to complete further test kilometers on gravel and snow, Tannert/Thielen competed again on the second Rallye day and at least reached the finish line in Liepāja.

The next race for the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team is March 6-7 at the ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye. The asphalt race around St. Wendel, which is also where the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup season starts, is to serve as another test for Griebel and Bergkvist for the second ERC Junior race taking place in Ireland on April 2-4

!NEW! ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team Ready to Rumble

Second season of ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team with ADAM R2

Six EC races and ADAC Rallye Deutschland world championship race

Winning formula: The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team wants to repeat last season’s success with the ADAM R2. 

From Latvia’s snow over Northern Ireland’s asphalt to the Azore’s gravel roads – the junior European Rallye Championship (FIA ERC Junior) 2015 calendar covers the entire spectrum of challenging racing surfaces. The best rallye drivers born in 1988 or later are set to prove themselves in Europe’s toughest young talent league in vehicles from the RC4 category, also known as R2. The ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team with two Opel ADAM R2 cars driven by Marijan Griebel and Emil Bergkvist are ready for the action to start.

Junior team: Marijan Griebel (right) and co-pilot Stefan Clemens (left) hope to get off to a successful start to the 2015 European Rallye championship in their Opel ADAM R2.

The competition is fully aware of the enormous potential of the 190 hp ADAM R2, and not just since Griebel’s outstanding second-place finish at the Barum Rallye in the Czech Republic last year. Griebel is accordingly optimistic before the season starts in Latvia: “In spite of the early start, we are going into the second season of the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team well prepared. Last year’s results show that we can hold our own against the competition in the ERC Junior. In the last months, we further developed not only the ADAM R2, but also ourselves as a team.”

Swedish duo: Emil Bergkvist (right) and his co-pilot Joakim Sjöberg (left) after looking forward to the start of the 2015 FIA Junior European Rallye Championship.

Emil Bergkvist, who advanced to the ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team following his title win in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup 2014, is also raring to go: “I learned so much in the ADAC Opel Rallye Cup. I’ll benefit from that in the ERC Junior. And as a Swede, I’m of course especially looking forward to the hopefully snowy races in Latvia.”

Open in Latvia: The pilots can look forward to some snowy stages at the Rallye Liepāja.

A special season highlight next to the six FIA ERC Junior races is participation in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, where Marijan Griebel celebrated an overwhelming class victory last August. His new co-driver is Stefan Clemens. Bergkvist’s co-driver this season is again the Swede Joakim Sjöberg. The Opel works drivers will encounter two other ADAM R2 cars in the EC. German Julius Tannert and his Luxembourgish co-driver Jennifer Thielen will be in four of six races, including the Rallye Liepāja. Pole Aleks Zawada and his French co-driver Cathy Derousseaux are taking part the whole season. However, their car is being run privately, while the works ADAM R2 is, as usual, in the capable hands of Holzer Motorsport.

Calendar ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team 2015

February 6 - 8            Rallye Liepāja, Liepāja/Latvia (gravel/ice/snow) *

April 2 - 4                  Circuit of Ireland Rally, Belfast/Northern Ireland (asphalt) *

June 4 - 6                  SATA Rallye Açores, Ponta Delgada/Azores/Portugal (gravel) *

June 25 - 27              Geko Ypres Rally, Ypern/Belgium (asphalt) *

July 17 -19                auto24 Rally Estonia, Otepää/Estonia (gravel) *

August 20 - 23           ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Trier (asphalt)

August 28 - 30           Barum Czech Rally, Zlín/Czech Republic (asphalt) *

* Race in FIA ERC Junior